There seems to be a fine line from where progressive rock stops becoming
brilliant and start becoming self indulgent crap? What is prog rock? No
arguments over bands like Genesis, Yes, ELP and the undisputed kings of
prog, Pink floyd. But what about Deep Purple, Can, Van Der Graaf
Generator? My morning jacket’s Z, could they be considered prog rock?

Some bands occasionally drifted into prog from other genres. From their
blues roots, Led Zeppelin’s Stairway To Heaven is the classic example.
Even the last Dexys Midnight Runners album ‘don’t stand me down’ (who
coincidently had Vince Crane from Atomic Rooster in their line up by
then) seemed to drift there. From their funk beginnings via Celtic swing
to prog?

In the late 70’s prog metamorphosed into ‘art rock’. Bands scared of
being tarnished with the same brush as some of the above mentioned
‘dinosaur’ bands, re invented the genre. Still the same criteria,
unconventional chord and rhythm changes, and a nod to classical and
jazz, and bordering avant-garde. But instead of tracks lasting 15-20
minutes, they were trimmed them down to a respectable 4 – 6 minutes and
sampling became a main stay of the genre – a good thing?

But there is no mistaking the sound. Perhaps an easier way of defining
the sound – if it don’t fit into any other genre, it’s prog!

Here is a list of a few of my suggested contenders. All the tracks
listed would sound at home sequenced next to one and other in any order.
What is the best prog rock album of all time? Just as important, what is
the worst?

The list is presented as an alphabetical listing from my personal
collection. I have kept it to one entrée per artist.

What a misinformed, misinforming load of crap this list is. Are you
honestly trying to help someone out here? Or do you just want to confuse
everyone? And if so, why? If you are seriously asking a question, just
ask someone who might know the answer!

> There seems to be a fine line from where progressive rock stops
becoming brilliant and start becoming self indulgent crap? What is prog
rock? No arguments over bands like Genesis, Yes, ELP and the undisputed
kings of prog, Pink floyd. But what about Deep Purple,

Metal

> Can,

OK, maybe

> Van Der Graaf Generator?

Definitely

> My morning jacket’s Z, could they be considered prog rock?

Definitely not.

> Some bands occasionally drifted into prog from other genres. From
their blues roots, Led Zeppelin’s Stairway To Heaven is the classic
example.

Not prog

> Even the last Dexys Midnight Runners album ‘don’t stand me down’ (who
coincidently had Vince Crane from Atomic Rooster in their line up by
then) seemed to drift there. From their funk beginnings via Celtic swing
to prog?

How could anyone even begin to classify them as progressive about
anything?

> In the late 70’s prog metamorphosed into ‘art rock’.

What? Art rock existed at the same time as prog rock, they’ve been the
same thing all along. Think about Arthur Brown singing Fire with his
head aflame – that’s art rock, boy. It’s 1966 too.

> Bands scared of being tarnished with the same brush as some of the
above mentioned ‘dinosaur’ bands, re invented the genre.

What use is this sentence?

People make music because they think it’s good. No one is tarnished with
a brush!

> Still the same criteria, unconventional chord and rhythm changes, and
a nod to classical and jazz, and bordering avant-garde.

Give us some examples of avant garde, you nattering twit! You wouldn’t
know avant garde even if a steaming heap of it hit you right between the
eyes.

> But instead of tracks lasting 15-20 minutes, they were trimmed them
down to a respectable 4 – 6 minutes

Shorter track lengths gives you respectability??

> and sampling became a main stay of the genre – a good thing?

Sampling is popular across all genres!

You are worthless!

> But there is no mistaking the sound. Perhaps an easier way of defining
the sound – if it don’t fit into any other genre, it’s prog!

That’s a copout!

> Here is a list of a few of my suggested contenders.

Completely off base!

> All the tracks listed would sound at home sequenced next to one and
other in any order.

No – they wouldn’t! Unless you have EARS OF CLAY – which you apparently
do!

> What is the best prog rock album of all time?

Who cares? List twenty good ones. Why rank them?

> Just as important, what is the worst?

The worst one isn’t important at all! If it’s the worst, then forget
about it!

> The list is presented as an alphabetical listing from my personal
collection. I have kept it to one entrée per artist.

Tarkus and Thick are two classics of the genre. If you don’t like this
music, that’s fine – just write that you don’t like this music and don’t
try to evaluate it. You are doing it and its fans a real disservice by
passing your opinions off as informed ones.